Bone screw and tool for use therewith

Abstract

A bone screw comprises a main body including a shank portion, a head portion attached to the shank portion, and a cap moveably attached to the head portion. The head portion includes a tool interface structure therein having a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween. A tool lock recess is provided in at least one of the sidewalls of the tool interface structure. The tool interface structure is accessible through an opening within an exterior surface of the cap.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bone screw, comprising:
 a shank portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shank portion includes at least one thread on an exterior surface thereof extending from adjacent the proximal end of the shank portion to adjacent the distal end of the shank portion; and 
 a head portion attached to the shank portion at the proximate end thereof, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein and wherein the tool interface structure includes a plurality of sidewalls, a floor and a tool lock recess located within at least one of the sidewalls; and wherein 
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over a first partial length of the shank portion; 
 the at least one thread extends over a second partial length of the shank portion; 
 the first partial length is shorter than the second partial length; 
 the second partial length encompasses the first partial length; 
 the first partial length begins at a first distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; 
 the second partial length begins at a second distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; and 
 the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The bone screw of  claim 1  wherein:
 the tool interface structure has a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween; and 
 the tool lock recess is partially defined by a floor of the tool interface structure at the closed end portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       3. The bone screw of  claim 1  wherein the first distance is equal to about a thread pitch distance of the at least one thread. 
     
     
       4. A bone screw, comprising:
 a main body including a shank portion wherein the shank portion includes at least one thread on an exterior surface thereof and a head portion attached to the shank portion, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein having a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween, wherein a tool lock recess is provided in at least one of the sidewalls of the tool interface structure; and 
 a cap moveably attached to the head portion, wherein the tool interface structure is accessible through an opening within an exterior surface of the cap; 
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion such that an aperture sidewall is defined between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over at least a portion of an entire length of the shank portion; and 
 one or more leading edge faces of the at least one thread is reclined with respect to the aperture sidewall. 
 
     
     
       5. The bone screw of  claim 4  wherein:
 the tool interface structure has a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween; and 
 the tool lock recess is partially defined by a floor of the tool interface structure at the closed end portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       6. The bone screw of  claim 4  wherein:
 a width of the at least one bone material aperture is equal to about a thread pitch distance of the at least one thread; and 
 the one or more leading edge faces of the at least one thread is reclined such that a transverse tip-to-tip distance between opposing edge faces of the thread is at least about 25% greater than the thread pitch distance of the at least one thread. 
 
     
     
       7. The bone screw of  claim 6  wherein:
 the tool interface structure has a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween; and 
 the tool lock recess is partially defined by a floor of the tool interface structure at the closed end portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       8. The bone screw of  claim 6  wherein:
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over a first partial length of the shank portion; the at least one thread extends over a second partial length of the shank portion; 
 the first partial length is shorter than the second partial length; the second partial length encompasses the first partial length; the first partial length begins at a first distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; 
 the second partial length begins at a second distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; and 
 the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       9. A bone screw, comprising:
 a shank portion having at least one helically shaped thread on an exterior surface thereof, wherein the thread extends from adjacent a proximal end of the shank portion to adjacent a distal end of the shank portion, wherein the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion, wherein the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion such that an aperture sidewall is defined between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 a head portion attached to the shank portion at the proximal end thereof, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein, wherein the tool interface structure includes a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein the tool interface structure includes a tool lock enabling feature provided in at least one of the sidewalls thereof and wherein the cannulation passage is exposed at the closed end portion of the tool interface structure; and 
 a cap moveably attached to the head portion, wherein the tool interface structure is accessible through an opening within an exterior surface of the cap; and wherein: 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over at least a portion of an entire length of the shank portion; 
 a width of the at least one bone material aperture is equal to about a thread pitch distance of the at least one thread; and 
 one or more leading edge faces of the at least one thread is reclined with respect to the aperture sidewall such that a transverse tip-to-tip distance between opposing edge faces of the thread is at least about 25% greater than the thread pitch distance of the at least one thread. 
 
     
     
       10. A bone screw, comprising:
 a shank portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shank portion includes at least one thread on an exterior surface thereof extending from adjacent the proximal end of the shank portion to adjacent the distal end of the shank portion; and 
 a head portion attached to the shank portion at the proximate end thereof, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein and wherein the tool interface structure includes a plurality of sidewalls, a floor and a tool lock recess located within at least one of the sidewalls; and wherein 
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the shank portion includes a plurality of bone material apertures therein each extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; and 
 the exterior surface of the shank portion includes a channel therein extending between a first one of the bone material apertures and a second one of the bone material apertures thereby forming a contiguous bone material window having opposing side walls and a bridge member attached therebetween. 
 
     
     
       11. The bone screw of  claim 10  wherein:
 a width of the at least one bone material aperture is equal to about a thread pitch distance of the at least one thread; and 
 the one or more leading edge faces of the at least one thread is reclined such that a transverse tip-to-tip distance between opposing edge faces of the thread is at least about 25% greater than the thread pitch distance of the at least one thread. 
 
     
     
       12. The bone screw of  claim 10  wherein:
 the tool interface structure has a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween; and 
 the tool lock recess is partially defined by a floor of the tool interface structure at the closed end portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       13. The bone screw of  claim 10  wherein:
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over a first partial length of the shank portion; 
 the at least one thread extends over a second partial length of the shank portion; 
 the first partial length is shorter than the second partial length; 
 the second partial length encompasses the first partial length; 
 the first partial length begins at a first distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; 
 the second partial length begins at a second distance from the proximate end of the shank portion; and 
 the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
 
     
     
       14. A bone screw, comprising:
 a shank portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the shank portion includes at least one thread on an exterior surface thereof extending from adjacent the proximal end of the shank portion to adjacent the distal end of the shank portion; and 
 a head portion attached to the shank portion at the proximate end thereof, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein and wherein the tool interface structure includes a plurality of sidewalls, a floor and a tool lock recess located within at least one of the sidewalls; and wherein: 
 the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough; 
 the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion such that an aperture sidewall is defined between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion; 
 the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over at least a portion of an entire length of the shank portion; and 
 one or more leading edge faces of the at least one thread is reclined with respect to the aperture sidewall. 
 
     
     
       15. A bone screw, comprising:
 a main body including a shank portion wherein the shank portion includes at least one thread on an exterior surface thereof and a head portion attached to the shank portion, wherein the head portion includes a tool interface structure therein having a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween, wherein a tool lock recess is provided in at least one of the sidewalls of the tool interface structure, wherein the shank portion includes a cannulation passage extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the cannulation passage defines an interior surface of the shank portion, wherein the shank portion includes at least one bone material aperture therein extending between the exterior surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the shank portion, wherein the at least one bone material aperture extends through the at least one thread over a first partial length of the shank portion, wherein the at least one thread extends over a second partial length of the shank portion, wherein the first partial length is shorter than the second partial length, wherein the second partial length encompasses the first partial length, wherein the first partial length begins at a first distance from the proximate end of the shank portion, wherein the second partial length begins at a second distance from the proximate end of the shank portion, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance; and 
 a cap moveably attached to the head portion, wherein the tool interface structure is accessible through an opening within an exterior surface of the cap. 
 
     
     
       16. The bone screw of  claim 15  wherein:
 the tool interface structure, has a closed end portion, an open end portion and sidewall extending therebetween; and 
 the tool lock recess is partially defined by a floor of the tool interface structure at the closed end portion thereof.